10 Simple Ways to Improve How You Communicate Online

Your ability to communicate clearly with your audience is critical to the success of your online business. There are a number of subtle, yet critical differences between communicating online (with written words and images) than spoken, face to face communication. Many fail at properly communicating online and come off as disingenuous, awkward or even rude when they communicate online.

Whether the issue is a generational thing (people in their mid twenties like myself have been communicating online for a long time) or the absence of mannerisms and subtle nuance, there are definitely plenty among us who don't communicate well.

The second reason is that images lead to better retention for your audience.

When people hear information, they're likely to remember only 10% of that information three days later. However, if a relevant image is paired with that same information, people retained 65% of the information three days later. (Source)

So, do your readers a favor. Get their attention and teach them something that lasts!

I love GIFs and use them in a lot of private conversations. Aids in clarity. Oh, and they can be hilarious...

#8 Speak in the Voice of Your Audience

No one cares that you know fancy words. Seriously. No one has ever complained that a less complicated word was used in place of a less common one.

Use industry jargon as appropriate, but there is no point in distancing yourself from your audience by using complicated words that leave you sounding pompous.

#9 Sometimes Saying Nothing Is the Best

Be sure that you don't put on a show for thousands of people by arguing with someone excessively.

"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."― Benjamin Franklin

If you really have something to be settled, take it to a private chat.

I have always struggled with this, as I love the chance to partake in a war of words with someone I think is "trolling," but that rarely ends well.

#10 [On Social Media] Avoid Long Posts and Wordy Replies

"The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them." - Stephen King

As in quality copywriting, you are best suited to break down long responses into multiple posts or comments. Valuable or not, writing a manifesto as a reply will typically be ignored.

About the author

Nate McCallister

Nate is the founder and main contributor of EntreResource.com. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur who spends his time building businesses and raising his two kids Sawyer and Brooks with his beautiful wife Emily. His main interests include copywriting, economics and piano.